Congratulations to everyone.

What a wonderful night. I trust you had an amazing time. I know for some it was a very moving experience and meant a lot to march up Oxford St and put shame and fear to bed once and for all.

The reactions of the crowd demonstrated had an important message. When we marched through the Glam Stand and the drag queen hosts announced the theme of our group, people gave us a standing ovation. One guy waved me over while we were marching and said thanks so much and that he wished he knew of our message earlier….he had been through an ex-gay program himself.

It was unfortunate that one of our members was verbally attacked early in the piece when a person read the words ex-gay on our shirts. Behind that attack would have been a story as to why they reacted so aggressively. If they would read the entire message on the shirt “Celebrates Ex-gay Survivors” ..and if they had thought things through instead of just abusing they would have realised that there is NO WAY Mardi Gras would let any anti-gay group into the parade. When I mentioned what had happened to a Mardi Gras committee member they said that, if they had been there, the person would have thrown out of the parade. That kind of abusive behaviour is not tolerated.

Despite that, in the end I think we all had a good time. And with our signs Ex-gay – No Way, Still Gay, Ex-Ex-Gay, Reconciled, Love has no Conditions, our message was strong and clear. Many people are unaware that these ex-gay programs still exist in Australia and cause enormous damage in peoples lives…..even contributing to suicides. Part of our role is to educate and present a positive message.

You may have seen me become quite emotional just before we took off. I know almost everyone’s personal story and they journey to get to the point where they can proudly march up Oxford St. And I am also conscious of the ones we have lost. I feel privileged to have contributed in some way to facilitate an opportunity for you to be free to be yourself.

Why don’t you share your experience on our forum? http://www.freedom2b.org/topic/722

Do you have any good pics of the night. They can be posted in this gallery http://www.freedom2b.org/category/image-galleries/freedom-2-be-mardi-gras-2010. Email your best pics to chris@freedom2b.org and they will be added.

So thanks once again to everyone contributing to a wonderful night.

Special thanks of course must go to the planning and organising committee Shane, Ben and Nick who have put in hours of work to make last night happen.

Thanks also to

• All the first-timers


• AJ and David who carried the banner all the way through the parade.


• Our Victorian, WA and Qld people who travelled so far to join us.


• Dale from Canada and his Aussie friends.


• The girls from the Central Coast.


• Jeff who had just flown in from LA that morning (think jetlag)


• Craig and Duncan from New Zealand.


• Steve our cameraman who is working on a video of the night and a doco for Freedom 2 b[e]


• Our official photographer Alex http://alexphotopaint.net/


• and my lovely daughter Hannah who marched with me for the first time

Thanks to everyone

BTW…..we were mentioned in the Sydney Morning Herald

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/colour-and-joy-tinged-with-tears-20100227-pa3q.html?autostart=1

Amazing night….love freedom 2 b[e]!!

An article in Page 13 of the Sun Herald

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/colour-and-joy-tinged-with-tears-20100227-pa3q.html?autostart=1

And also we can be seen on Sunrise

http://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/video/play/-/6864406/fifi-at-mardi-gras

Hi happyprecious

That’s so good to hear. I also look forward to seeing the photos.

LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT!!!

It was a unique experience.

I was overwhelmed by the kindred spirit of the 9500 marchers

and the support from the crowd was inspiring,

I was wondering through the march if pastors and other christian leaders have ever asked the crowd why they go to support the mg?

Many would have been ‘straight’ yet were very supportive. I know of hetero couples from the coast here that went down, their first experience of MG too. They loved it. I wonder, if christian leaders bothered to get out of their own shoes and ask people in the crowd about MG and the GLBTI community in general, could they possibly see things a little differently?

One for me to continue to ponder on I guess.

Well as far as me is concerned, I am HOOKED BIG TIME.

I will be down next year again.

Was awesome meeting everyone.

I have had a few thoughts about our ‘entry’ too. In time, we will begin discussing next year i presume, but for now … let’s enjoy the moment.

If you have not been, if you have ever thought about it, well 2011 can be your year.

It is empowering, to say the least.

The Sun began to set above the skyscrapers above me. The generators were starting and the lights were flickering on. The beats were starting to play though speakers on the numerous floats and final practices were underway before the main event.

We were united together in our marshalling area awaiting our final orders to take to the street. From the corner of my eye I saw the most important thing. The one thing that would make the whole night worthwhile. There amungst us was our leader, head bowed in prayer dedicating our footsteps to God. I knew then for sure I was in the right place, I would have joined in, but before I had the chance, the prayer finished.

We had spent the last couple of hours down this little laneway. It was our own little world down there. I had no idea what was in place along the march route, no idea what to expect. Our team assembled. We were moments away from taking those first steps. Steps towards the start of the parade, steps I have never walked before. My mind had prepared me to the best of its ability, But as I was about to learn, nothing could prepare you for Mardi Gra. It was now time to march. With banner and signs raised we launched ourselves into the main event.

My eyes gazed along the street in front of me. people were everywhere, climbed on top of lamp posts, looking down from balconys. there was no room left. every inch of footpath was taken up with people. We started moving, the croud roared, cheered, whistled, shouted. you couldnt hear your own thoughts. your own thoughts were replaced with the supportive voice of the croud. they were carrying me on. driving me to take my next step, and after each step there was another cheer compelling me to take the next one.

My eyes scanned the croud. I noticed they were all there for a single cause. the cause the drew us all there. you would think that cause would be supporting the GLBT cause but that wasnt what I saw. What I saw was greater than that. what was uniting tens of thousands of people was “love”. everyone was there showing their love in their own way. Some were sharing their love with tears running down their face. Others were sharing their love by shouting at the top of their lungs. Others, Hugging and kissing everyone they could get their hands on. The march followed the streets of Sydney. But what I saw wasn’t Sydney, It was the nations of the world united. from the UK, New Zealand, America, Africa, the whole Globe. We were all talking and marching to the same language. The language of love.

My attention was drawn away from the croud. my focus shifted to the people that were marching beside me. Having read many of their stories right here on this site I knew there was more happening here than marching and cheering. Lives were being changed in this single moment. Chains were breaking free with every step. You could see it on the faces of the marchers. New life had sparked inside!

Our feet had carried us kilometres, The parade nearing its end. But there was one more point we had to pass. We inched slowly towards the main grandstand where thousands of people were awaiting our arrival. We stepped forward and were announced to the multitudes. they roared! The drag queen hosts looked at us from their raised platform and annouced to the people “I’m glad they Survived”.

Then it hit home.

We were the survivors!

Our numbers should have been more, But we had lost people on this journey. Suicide, depression, bullying, isolation, traditions. Many years of hurt and neglect had taken its toll. How many more lives would be lost before “Christians” realise that its not a closed book on the topic. How many more people should have been marching beside me but instead their life had been cut short. People need to open a dialogue and their minds to what God is really saying about love and acceptance. We are ready to talk, to share, to guide them on the journey. They need to make the second move and open their doors and their hearts to the possibilities, We have already made the first move. Its time now for them to step up to the plate.

Thank you to everyone who marched beside me. You made my experience what it was, A moment to remember and cherish.

Love HereIam

Hi all,

I’d just like to thank everyone for being very friendly to this newbie, my name is Peter but most friends call me Pj, it was my first time marching in the parade. I had a good time, it was amazing to see how many people turned out to cheer everyone on. I suppose as a first timer, I was a tad overwhelmed by the massive crowd, I was thinking about my journey that my life has been. Its been a struggle but here I was walking up Oxford street as a survivor.

Thanks again.

Pj

yep…..another example of what often say……;peoples criticisms of the parade are frequently based on perceptions from a distance. There was an interesting letter in the Sydney Star Observer this week. Someone as a gay observer of the parade made a very different observation.. http://www.starobserver.com.au/letters/2010/03/02/letters-17/22307

WHAT ABOUT US?

NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Walkers for Medical Marijuana Now!, Legal Aid NSW/Inner City Legal Centre, NSW Fire Brigades, NSW State Emergency Service, NSW Rural Fire Service, Family Planning NSW, Black Dog Institute (headed by Jeff Kennett who confuses homosexuality with pedophilia), NSW Women’s Refuge Movement, State Transit Authority, Kirketon Road Centre, Railcorp, Climate Action Newtown & Friends, Taronga Zoo, ANZ, Virgin Blue and Foxtel may be “gay-friendly” organisations and businesses, but they do not contribute to gay lifestyle and culture.

Why were they represented in the Mardi Gras parade? Has Mardi Gras lost the plot or have I lost the point?

— Ron

Welcome PJ! Glad you enjoyed the march.

Hope to hear more from you,

Ann Maree

Mard iGra was an awesome, fun and life changing experience.

They said u wont be the same afterwards and its true. This time last year i was trying to decrease my same sex attraction, getting the nerves to do “counselling” and never would have though 12 months later id march in the gay and lesbian mard igras as someone not ashamed of beign gay and not ashamed of being Christian. I had always seen this parade as evil and as somethign that grieves the heart of my God.

What one heck of a turnaround!!! I, and u and we R SURVIVORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

I have already told my mum, brother, and a outed myself to a mate from church, who is a ocker mach o male type about mardi gra and me marching in it. LOL im a tragic but i wore my rainbow band on my arm unashamedly all weekend around Sydney.

MG 2010 made me proud t o be diferent, proud t obe a christian and reinforced in me that I am as good as anyone else, that we r not freaks, that im not alone in my journey and have wonderful supoort.

For me it had been a blessing. Making me more bold to stand up for truth, for wat i beielved in and to be me and not be ashamed of it or be initmidated by others think or how they put me down.

The camradrie of the Freedom 2 be was amazing and i met some incredible people. Having been on similar journeys being around for such an night , the fellowship and encouragement was unforgettable.

Initally i was fearful after i registerd and nervous as i got up saturday morning but that sooned turned to excitrement.

Knowing i no longer have to struggle with something i dont need to to struggle with and having great suppoort around me , i had the a undescribale, feeling as i marched out on my first mard i gra. It seemd surreal lol. I sound crzy but am trying to describe the best way i cxan, its hard.

The buzz i got from stepping out onto oxford st and the crowds and cheering and the reception we got was incredible. The atmosphere of the nite was soemthign t o be remembered. Before we marched i had so many people asking me questions about my t shirt and “ex gay survivors. The opportunity t omeet and speak witth a range of peeople was facinating.

As soon as they r available i am registering for mardi gra 2010

Thank you Anthony, Ben, Linda , Michelle and Becky and the rest of the team at Freedom 2 BE for making me feel very welcome and making my first mardi gra a great expereince and also for helping me connect my faith and sexuality.

It was a privlidge to carry that banner for the duration of the parade, my arms ached but man it was worth it.

I encourage anyone reading this who has never marched to DO SO. U wont regret it. It will have impact on you and strengthen you to to be who r really are so u can impact others.

Also, Im thankful to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for without u im nothing. Knowing that i maccepted by you and have you as my Heavenly Father , I thank you for being with me on this road, in the hard times and the good.

lol now im waiting for a nice bf to come along and join me in this thign called life

GBU all

yep…..another example of what often say……;peoples criticisms of the parade are frequently based on perceptions from a distance. There was an interesting letter in the Sydney Star Observer this week. Someone as a gay observer of the parade made a very different observation.. http://www.starobserver.com.au/letters/2010/03/02/letters-17/22307

WHAT ABOUT US?

NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Walkers for Medical Marijuana Now!, Legal Aid NSW/Inner City Legal Centre, NSW Fire Brigades, NSW State Emergency Service, NSW Rural Fire Service, Family Planning NSW, Black Dog Institute (headed by Jeff Kennett who confuses homosexuality with pedophilia), NSW Women’s Refuge Movement, State Transit Authority, Kirketon Road Centre, Railcorp, Climate Action Newtown & Friends, Taronga Zoo, ANZ, Virgin Blue and Foxtel may be “gay-friendly” organisations and businesses, but they do not contribute to gay lifestyle and culture.

Why were they represented in the Mardi Gras parade? Has Mardi Gras lost the plot or have I lost the point?

— Ron

These organisations mentioned above may not contribute directly to gay lifestyle, but in terms of culture, I believe they (and other organisations which have embraced a gay-friendly culture) can play a very important role in creating a healthy working environment for all LGBT people that is not only free of discrimination and harrassment, but opens doors for connection and dialogue with other people who understand the dynamics of sexual orientation.

No, Mardi Gras has not lost the plot at all.